The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 is a watch you can actually buy! We live in a world now of horological shortages which are affecting a number of high end Swiss watch brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, FP Journe, and even Vacheron Constantin. It doesn’t stop there. Even Tudor’s popular models such as the black bay fifty-eight and gmt models, have generated so much demand that waiting lists have become the norm for the past few years. There is, however, some hope now with recent releases from brands such as Tissot.

Tissot is no light weight new kid on the block. It was founded way back in 1853, before Rolex and Audemars Piguet, by Charles-Felicien Tissot and his son Charles-Emile in the Swiss city of Le Locle in the Neuchatel region of the Swiss Jura mountains. At the time Tissot was well known for their reliable pocket watches which became renowned worldwide. In 1930, Tissot merged with Omega and from 1983 both brands manufacture luxury swiss watches under the greater Swatch group. These days Tissot is well known for producing finely crafted but surprisingly affordable luxury wrist watches. After 160 years of watchmaking, Tissot has finally given birth to a watch which can satisfy most watch enthusiasts appetites, even watch snobs, without breaking the bank.

The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 is indeed that watch. What’s so good about this watch you ask? Well the current PRX is a throwback to its original design from 1978. Back in the day, Tissot designed a series of timepieces with integrated bracelets fitted with newly developed quartz movements that were thin and allowed slim cases to blend in beautifully with the whole design language. The PRX now comes in a quartz movement (PRX 40 205) and a mechanical movement (PRX Powermatic 80). What’s mind blowing is that Tissot have pulled off an elegant sports watch manufactured with a high level of finish, from its textured dials on the 40 205 to its waffle dials on the Powermatic. Looking at the watch as a whole reveals careful polishing, attention to detail, and consistent workmanship from the case to the satin finish on the narrowing down bracelet. Not only does it have an expensive appearance but it’s lightness and flexibility provides excellent wrist feel.

The self winding Powermatic movement boasts a patented antimagnetic Nivachron balance spring and with 80 hours of power reserve you can be assured that when you put your watch down at the end of the week it will still be running at the start of the following week. In terms of accuracy, it ran at 0 to +5 seconds per day when I bought it which is well within COSC parameters.

Once you slap the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 on the wrist the combination of all its design elements gives you a feeling of quality with perfect weight and balance from its 40 mm case and tapering bracelet. I have a 6.8 inch (17cm) wrist and the case sits right in the middle and barely moves by the end of the day.

The only issues I have with the watch are two. Firstly, is a lack of bracelet micro-adjustment which will annoy some people especially on hot days. Secondly, is the lack of rubber and leather strap options available from Tissot which would take the versatility and wearability of the PRX to iconic levels. Given Tissot has made a technically competent, well finished watch for $1050 AUD (powermatic 80) and $550 AUD (40 205) that rivals many more expensive watches on the market today those two flaws can easily be overlooked.
And the fact that you can buy the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 from your local department store with free delivery to your door and no sign of a wait list is welcomed like freedom.